On the 12th June, a seminar will take place on the theme of "Explaining wage differentials in the female-dominated long-term care sector: Evidence from Portugal"which will be presented by Viktoria Szenkurök, an economist by training who works as a professor and research associate (prae-doc) at Vienna University of Economics and Business.
Her research interests focus on inequalities, the economics of ageing and long-term care. She is currently studying for a PhD that focuses on internal and cross-country differences in the use and provision of long-term care for the elderly.
Abstract:
The aim of this study is to uncover potential drivers of wage differentials in the long-term care sector and to assess how these compare to other female-dominated 'caring' sectors (child care, health care and social work) in Portugal. We use matched employer-employee data from Quadros de Pessoal in 2021, employing a multilevel framework to identify wage gaps and potential contributing factors. Our preliminary findings reveal that the LTC sector exhibits the lowest average pay among all caring occupations. However, upon accounting for various individual- and firm-level factors, a more nuanced picture emerges. In addition, male workers in LTC performing personal care activities suffer from a significant wage penalty (compared to women). These findings hold substantial policy relevance, as improving working conditions, including higher pay, can enhance the sector's attractiveness for both genders and ensure an adequate supply.